The area in and around Livermore is nearly perfect motorcycle country, and with gasoline prices increasing in and around Livermore, motorcycle use is increasing too. That increased use translates into an increased number of motorcycle accidents though. On a roadway, motorcycles present low and narrow profiles. Sometimes, motorcycle accidents occur because drivers of motor vehicles either just don’t see a motorcycle, or don’t see it until it’s too late, even when riders have their lights on.
Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents in Livermore
There are a wide variety of causes of motorcycle accidents with other vehicles. Here are a few examples of their common causes:
- Left Turns: These are caused when a driver makes a left turn in front of a motorcyclist who is traveling straight through an intersection. The motorcyclist typically has less than two seconds to try and avoid a collision.
- Right Turns: A motorcyclist will be traveling straight ahead with the right-of-way on a roadway when another vehicle turning right either pulls out in front of it or strikes it from its side.
- Lane Changes: These accidents occur most often on a roadway with four lanes of traffic, two lanes going in each direction. A motorcycle might be traveling next to a vehicle when the vehicle tries to change lanes.
- Lane Splitting: It’s perfectly legal in California for a motorcyclist to ride between two lanes of stopped traffic. Drivers just don’t understand that somebody might be passing them in between two lanes of traffic that is stopped in the same direction.
- Distracted Driving: A driver of a motor vehicle might be talking on a cellular phone, texting or using an infotainment center while moving and never see a motorcyclist. These types of accidents might fall under inattentive driving or failure to yield the right-of-way.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Other than maybe a helmet, nearly all motorcyclists are far less protected than somebody driving or occupying a passenger car. Motorcyclists don’t have the safety benefits of a steel body and frame around them, or airbags and seat belts. They’re far more exposed to injury than anybody in a motor vehicle. Here are some common motorcycle accident injuries that are seen in emergency rooms throughout California:
- Skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Rib fractures with damage to internal organs.
- Fractures of the upper and lower extremities.
- Joint damage to the shoulders, knees and ankles.
- Road rash with the likelihood of infection.
Claims Process For Passenger Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
When you think about motorcycle accidents, you probably only think about them if you’re the one using the bike itself.
But the very same dangers that come with these accidents also apply to passengers on the back of the bike. And in fact, passengers are even more vulnerable in certain situations because they don’t even have control of the bike. With that said, though, passengers that are injured in motorcycle accidents have the same right to file a claim and get financial support for those injuries.
The main question comes down to who was negligent and caused the accident to begin with, which usually includes:
- Drivers that were distracted, driving aggressively, or turned into the motorcycle without checking first.
- The city or other government agency responsible for keeping the road safe
- Companies that made defective parts or safety equipment that worsened your injuries
However, when you’re a passenger that’s injured, you also have to think about the potential fault that rests on the driver of the motorcycle. They have the same duty of care to keep you safe just like they would if they were driving in a car where you’re a passenger, which means they could be responsible for paying for your injuries if they were:
- Speeding
- Lanesplitting
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- Not paying attention to the road or traffic signals
Keep in mind that not every insurance policy carries coverage for injuries that happen to you as a passenger. That’s frustrating, but you’re not out of options. You can file a personal injury lawsuit, and with our team’s help, we’ll make sure you have what you need to put together a claim and get help.
Wrongful Death Claims Process After a Fatal Motorcycle Accident
- Surviving spouses or children
- Other close family members if there are no surviving spouses/children
- Executors named in a will (if there is one)
- An insurance claim (if there’s fatal coverage language in the policye
- A wrongful death lawsuit in civil court
And once it’s filed, it’s about getting financial support that helps your surviving family members through this difficult time. They’re made up of things like:
- Medical bills connected to the final injuries
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Lost income your loved one would’ve earned and as well as a loss of future financial support
- Lost benefits and considerations for future lost benefits (401k, etc.)
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and support they provided to the household
- Mental and emotional suffering tied to the loss
There’s a couple key things to remember here. First, there’s still a deadline of two years from the date of the death to file the claim. Second, the actual evidence that goes into a wrongful death claim is also different. It usually includes familiar things like police reports, pictures/videos, and medical records. But there’s further things that are usually needed like:
- Death certificates
- Coroner’s reports
- Bills/expenses tied to funeral services or cremation
- Financial records
Don’t Let the Insurance Company Make You Take the Fall
Experienced motorcyclists are well aware of the fact that motorcycle accident injuries can be severe and permanent or even fatal. That’s precisely why the overwhelming majority of them ride defensively. Regardless of that awareness, insurance companies are biased against motorcycle riders. They’re going to try to push that prejudice off onto everybody involved in the case, including you, the victim, to have you believe that you were the sole cause of your crash.
When you retain us at Maison Law to represent you for your injuries and damages suffered in a motorcycle accident, we begin attacking that bias from the onset. We will tirelessly work until you are treated fairly and will fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Livermore Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
After being injured in a motorcycle accident that was caused by the carelessness and negligence of somebody else, don’t give the opposing insurer any type of a statement about how the accident happened or the injuries that you suffered. California law doesn’t require you to give any such statement, and the opposing insurer only plans on using your own words against you in the future.
Rather than taking the risk of harming your case, preserve and protect it by contacting Maison Law right away after being injured in any motorcycle accident. If we’re retained to represent you, our goal will be to maximize any settlement or award to the fullest extent of the law.